Braden Hordichuk needed just 20 seconds to turn the Regina Pats’ preseason opener around.
Hordichuk scored twice in a 20-second span in the third period Tuesday night, helping the Pats erase a 2-1 deficit and rally past the Swift Current Broncos 3-2 at the Brandt Centre. It was a dramatic way to start the preseason for Regina, which trailed twice before Hordichuk delivered the decisive blows.
The Pats came out strong in the opening period but couldn't solve Broncos goaltender Wyatt Reimer, who stopped all 11 shots he faced. Dawson Sheehan was just as sharp at the other end, turning aside all 12 Swift Current shots in the opening frame.
The Broncos finally broke through at 9:17 of the second period. Cohenn Rotar won a puck battle along the boards in the Regina zone and sent the puck to the front of the net. Jaxon Dean waited out Sheehan before sliding the puck past the sprawling Pats goaltender to make it 1-0.
Regina answered late in the period. The Pats created a two-on-one, and after Cohen Handby's initial pass was deflected back to him, he chipped the puck toward the net. The shot squeezed through Delano Pockar to tie the game 1-1.
The tie didn't last long. Just 1:56 later, Swift Current regained the lead after stealing the puck at the Regina blue line and creating another two-on-one. Rotar finished the chance himself, beating Fletcher MacDonald low on the glove side to put the Broncos back in front 2-1.
That set the stage for Hordichuk, the Pats’ first-overall pick of the 2024 U.S. Priority Draft. With Regina shorthanded at 12:28 of the third period, Ryder Dunn and Jacob Tait helped create an odd-man rush. Hordichuk tried to send the puck toward the front of the net, but it bounced back to him. He quickly chipped it off the Broncos goaltender and into the net to tie the game.
Twenty seconds later, Hordichuk did it again. Owen Sejna carried the puck deep into the Swift Current zone before finding Hordichuk in front of the net. The Pats forward made no mistake, banging the puck home for his second goal of the night and giving Regina its first lead.
The Broncos had opportunities to answer, but MacDonald and the Pats shut the door down the stretch.
Regina finished with a 26-24 edge in shots. The Pats went 0-for-3 on the power play, while Swift Current was held scoreless on six opportunities.
Sheehan stopped 12 of 13 shots in 30:37 before MacDonald took over. MacDonald made 11 saves on 12 shots over the final 29:23.
The Pats won't have much time to celebrate their opening-night victory.
Regina hosts the Moose Jaw Warriors Wednesday night at the Brandt Centre. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
The Pats will then travel to Brandon on Friday before hosting the Wheat Kings Saturday in Ochapowace, a game that can be heard on 620 CKRM.
Regina's preseason schedule wraps up with games against Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and Saskatoon before the regular season begins.
